DiMora
More Is Better
I picked up a Steeda Tri-Ax for the T56 Magnum XL.
Install was a pain only because the bolts are very hard to get to. A combo of various 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchets and extensions as well as a 3/8 drive 13MM swivel socket and a 13MM open-end wrench got the job done.
If you are in the driver's seat, the top-left bolt is the worst. The bottom left is a close second.
I like the shifter that came with the T56 Magnum XL...it is quiet, but it is a little bit sloppy. Neutral flops around just a bit. With that said, I haven't missed any shifts, but I did miss the positive click-click action my Roush shifter had on my 3650.
Anyway, on with it. I unbolted the Tremec:
Comparison:
Here is the Tri-Ax with some gasket maker ready to install:
Here it is installed, with what I kept of the dust-boot. You can see I cut the top off entirely, and enlarged the bottom. I also added some gasket maker to make sure dust stays out. In this image, the lip of the boot isn't seated yet, but I fixed that:
Ready for leather boot, ball, and a test-drive:
All done. Totally hidden mod:
Results:
It is much more stiff. There is no slop at all now. On the stock Tremec shifter, I could find neutral by jiggling it a bit...not with this thing. If I want neutral, now I just go into third and pull back one click - that is neutral. The centering springs neutralize it laterally between 4-N-3. To get it into 1 or on the 1-2 shift, you must pull it firmly to the left. The same is true of going into 5 and the 5-6 shift.
Over-riding the reverse lockout manually is VERY difficult now, which makes me happy for safety's sake (I did wire up the solenoid and I have a push-button lockout release).
Throw is shorter. I called Steeda and they said 25% shorter.
The over-extension stops are neat; I can literally THRASH the shifter now and it just goes CLICK-CLICK right into place.
I like it, but the additional spring tension may be total overkill. It takes a LOT of effort as you downshift coming to a stop to get it into first, and the extra effort holding it left on the 1-2 shift is significant. I think it might be perfect if the springs they used were not quite so stiff. I may take it apart and mod them to my liking, but first I'll give it a couple weeks of driving to let it break-in. It may well loosen up a bit; time will tell.
In summary, this mod is un-necessary, as the stock Tremec is just fine (and better than most remote shifters) but I did miss the click-click precision of an aftermarket short shifter, and this Tri-Ax gives me that back.
Install was a pain only because the bolts are very hard to get to. A combo of various 1/4 and 3/8 drive ratchets and extensions as well as a 3/8 drive 13MM swivel socket and a 13MM open-end wrench got the job done.
If you are in the driver's seat, the top-left bolt is the worst. The bottom left is a close second.
I like the shifter that came with the T56 Magnum XL...it is quiet, but it is a little bit sloppy. Neutral flops around just a bit. With that said, I haven't missed any shifts, but I did miss the positive click-click action my Roush shifter had on my 3650.
Anyway, on with it. I unbolted the Tremec:
Comparison:
Here is the Tri-Ax with some gasket maker ready to install:
Here it is installed, with what I kept of the dust-boot. You can see I cut the top off entirely, and enlarged the bottom. I also added some gasket maker to make sure dust stays out. In this image, the lip of the boot isn't seated yet, but I fixed that:
Ready for leather boot, ball, and a test-drive:
All done. Totally hidden mod:
Results:
It is much more stiff. There is no slop at all now. On the stock Tremec shifter, I could find neutral by jiggling it a bit...not with this thing. If I want neutral, now I just go into third and pull back one click - that is neutral. The centering springs neutralize it laterally between 4-N-3. To get it into 1 or on the 1-2 shift, you must pull it firmly to the left. The same is true of going into 5 and the 5-6 shift.
Over-riding the reverse lockout manually is VERY difficult now, which makes me happy for safety's sake (I did wire up the solenoid and I have a push-button lockout release).
Throw is shorter. I called Steeda and they said 25% shorter.
The over-extension stops are neat; I can literally THRASH the shifter now and it just goes CLICK-CLICK right into place.
I like it, but the additional spring tension may be total overkill. It takes a LOT of effort as you downshift coming to a stop to get it into first, and the extra effort holding it left on the 1-2 shift is significant. I think it might be perfect if the springs they used were not quite so stiff. I may take it apart and mod them to my liking, but first I'll give it a couple weeks of driving to let it break-in. It may well loosen up a bit; time will tell.
In summary, this mod is un-necessary, as the stock Tremec is just fine (and better than most remote shifters) but I did miss the click-click precision of an aftermarket short shifter, and this Tri-Ax gives me that back.
